A young child tragically lost his life in a devastating incident while receiving treatment for ADHD in a pressurized oxygen chamber with his mother present.
The incident occurred on January 31 when five-year-old Thomas Cooper was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for his ADHD and sleep apnea. The therapy machine exploded, leading to the fatal outcome. Subsequently, the family initiated legal action seeking £75 million in damages against both the machine manufacturer and the facility where the incident took place.
Addressing the media, Attorney General Dana Nessel highlighted that a small spark caused a fire that quickly engulfed Thomas, resulting in his untimely death. The family’s lawyer also revealed that the child’s mother, Juana “Annie” Cooper, sustained severe burns while attempting to rescue her son from the chamber.
The attorney described hyperbaric oxygen chambers, such as the one involved in the tragedy, as dangerous and lacking sufficient safety measures, emphasizing the urgent need for warnings and improved safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
The incident unfolded at the Oxford Center in Troy, Michigan, where the pressurized oxygen chamber was being used for therapy sessions. While these chambers are typically utilized for healing purposes, they are known to be highly combustible due to the pure oxygen and pressurized environment.
Despite the FDA approval of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for specific medical conditions, the therapy was not authorized for treating the boy’s ADHD and sleep apnea. The manufacturer of the chamber, Sechrist Industries, along with seven other individuals, faced legal action in connection with the explosion.
Following the tragedy, four individuals associated with the medical facility, including the CEO, primary management assistant, safety manager, and the chamber operator, were charged in relation to the incident. While they have pleaded not guilty, legal proceedings are ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion.
In response to the incident, the Oxford Center emphasized its commitment to child safety and pledged full cooperation with investigations to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the tragic outcome.
To support their pursuit of justice, Thomas’ family has launched a fundraising campaign, details of which can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-thomas-cooper-family-support.